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Lita backed to make successful Reading return

Former Reading player-manager Mick Gooding is convinced Leroy Lita's Royals career is not over.

Lita has joined Charlton Athletic on-loan, firing a barb at Reading manager Steve Coppell in the process, but Gooding told BBC Sport: "We could certainly see Leroy Lita scoring goals for Reading before the end of the season.

"Reserve-team football is good up to a point, but you can't beat playing in a first team.

"He's been scoring goals in the reserves and there wasn't any room for him on the bench on Saturday.

"So I'm not really surprised that they've let him go out on loan because it doesn't look as though they were going to use him in Reading's first team immediately.

"I'm sure at Charlton, Leroy Lita will have chances created for him and I'm sure he'll score goals there.

"If that means he comes back in four weeks and helps Reading stay in the Premier League, then everyone will be happy."